Celtics slow road woes with win over Clippers

Tuesday

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Before halftime, Boston and the Clippers already had combined for five technical fouls, plenty of rough contact, a few icy staredowns and a running dialogue of trash talk.

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Before halftime, Boston and the Clippersalready had combined for five technical fouls, plenty of roughcontact, a few icy staredowns and a running dialogue of trashtalk.

The Celtics feel right at home in such ugly situations, and theyrallied for a win that slowed their road woes.

Paul Pierce scored 10 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter,Kevin Garnett added 21 points and eight rebounds, and the Celticsmade an impressive late rally for a 94-85 victory over Los Angeleson Monday night.

Ray Allen scored 15 points and Rajon Rondo had 12 points and 10assists for the Celtics, who won on the road for just the secondtime in nine games, but only after blowing a 10-point lead in thefinal minutes.

Although the game was the clubs' only meeting of the season,both came out with a noticeable physical edge to their games. TheCeltics were still fuming after blowing a late lead against theLakers one night earlier, and they took it out on Staples Center'sother tenants.

"Once we settled into this game, we were more physical andpushed back, made it uncomfortable for them," Pierce said. "We haveto do it on a more consistent basis. We have to come out and throwthe first punch. ... You could feel it in the atmosphere. It was achippy game from the start."

The game also featured wild momentum swings and one-sidedrallies. The Celtics led 71-61 with 81/2 minutes to play, but theClippers responded with a 17-3 run, taking the lead on Griffin'sfree throws with 4:57 left when Brandon Bass fouled out.

Boston scored the next nine points, capped by Pierce's 3-pointerwith 2:47 left, and finished a 13-2 run with Mickael Pietrus' layupfor a seven-point lead. Los Angeles got to 87-84 on Griffin'sputback dunk with 59 seconds left, but the Celtics hung on to splitthe first two games of an eight-game trip, their longest of theseason.

"We were angry last night because we didn't get any stops downthe stretch (against the Lakers)," Boston coach Doc Rivers said."This is Lob City, and they enjoy the game. You can see when theyplay, they have a lot of fun, and we just had to make this game nofun. We talked about it before the game, how this can not be ajoyous occasion, and has to be no fun. Our guys went out there andturned the game from a joyous occasion to a competition."

Blake Griffin had 24 points and nine rebounds for the Clippers,who have lost four of five while falling behind the Lakers atop thePacific Division. Chris Paul had 14 points on 3-for-12 shooting inhis second game wearing a clear protective mask over his brokennose.

Griffin didn't speak to reporters after the game, while Paul wasstill steaming.

"I can't stand to lose. It's not acceptable," Paul said. "Wetalked about it after the game, that everybody has got to do theirpart. We're going to watch film and figure it out. There ain't nomoral victories around here. I've been in this league too long.You've got to win, or you lose. And you've got to play the rightway."

Griffin and Boston's Greg Stiemsma got matching technical foulsfor jostling in the first quarter, while Garnett and DeAndre Jordantraded trash talk and angry posturing before getting their ownmatching T's in the second quarter. Rivers got yet another for afurious reaction to a non-call, and the Clippers took their firstlead of the game moments later on Williams' 3-pointer.

"That's just Boston, that's all," said Mo Williams, who scored21 points off the bench. "That's their motto. Coming in, you knowthey're going to be aggressive, and if you don't match theiraggressiveness, they'll bully you. But I love games like this."

Paul, whose nose was broken three days ago in San Antonio,combined with Caron Butler and Jordan for 9-for-35 shooting for theClippers, who outrebounded the NBA's worst rebounding team45-31.

The Clippers still are off to an outstanding start to theseason, but they'll be hard-pressed to keep it up with a brutalschedule on the horizon.

They lost their second home game in two days - and their fifthin seven - during a stretch in which they'll play six games atStaples Center in eight days. The Clippers will become the firstNBA team to play 20 games in a month since the Cincinnati Royalsdid it in February 1967. NOTES: The Clippers have sold out all 19of their home games this season. ... Boston F Chris Wilcox isn'twith the team while undergoing tests for a potential heart problem.The Celtics don't have many specifics about Wilcox's health yet."Obviously it's not a good situation, but we're just hoping for thebest," Rivers said. Boston already lost Jeff Green for the seasonwith a heart issue. ... C Jermaine O'Neal also isn't on theCeltics' road trip after injuring his wrist. ... Garnett passedMoses Malone for 11th place on the NBA's career list in minutesplayed. ... Fans near courtside included Carolina Panthers QB CamNewton and Los Angeles Kings forwards Mike Richards and JeffCarter.

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